By Gonzalo Enriquez, Staff Writer
COLUMN
Immigration is American. It is who we are as a nation. We are a country founded on immigrants. 
America has aways been seen as an opportunity, a better life, or a second chance for many. The United States even had islands dedicated to immigrants before they came to America. To say that immigrants don’t belong or aren’t American would simply be wrong.
In 2014 there were 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. I know it’s wrong that some immigrants chose to come illegally, but some do it because they have no other choice. They are either running from problems or violence that could cause their death or because they too want to succeed in life.
According to CNN, about 1 million people were granted lawful permanent residence in the United States in 2015. That number is a start, but it should be higher. The process that one goes through to become a U.S citizen takes a long time and, worse, it’s very expensive for a lot of people. Also, many times people are too afraid to ask for help because they’re scared they’ll be sent back to their country.
About 42 percent of America’s top cancer researchers are immigrants, according to Forbes. Immigrants want to be a part of our great nation. They benefit our country by bringing their money and drive to work hard here. We shouldn’t close doors to stop them from coming to America. I’m sure people will always find ways to come to America. I doubt that a wall will keep people out.
Growing up I knew a lot of people who turned out to be illegals. I didn’t know it at the time. It’s difficult because you don’t suspect they are illegals because they look just like you and me. They work hard and have jobs, support their families. It’s hard to see people worry about the moment they believe they’ll be torn away from their family. It’s even harder when children with no one else are left behind because their parent is illegal and discovered.
The other heartbreaking scenario is the person brought here as a toddler, who has known only the United States his entire life, but gets sent back to Mexico as an adult to a country he hardly knows. Imagine being told you weren’t American, regardless of how many years you’ve lived in the United States and being sent to a country you have no memory of ever having been to.America is the land of the brave for those who aren’t afraid, who will risk it all for a better life and a better future.